Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 24 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in an elegant angular gothic book-hand script on animal vellum, showing a skillful patch in the lower margin prior to ruling. Rubrics in red. (178 x 125mm – 7 x 5’’)
Two two-line illuminated initials, twelve one-line illuminated initials and ten illuminated line-extenders in gold on red or blue ground.
France: Rouen, (Use of Rouen) c. 1470-90.
Unusual vibrant and elaborate panel borders on recto and verso in colorful floral (including strawberries – symbol of perfect righteousness) and geometric motif in red, green, blue and white on gold ground.
This leaf continues Psalm 94 (King James 95) 6-11: “Venite…” (Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us. For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand…).
The two-line illuminated “Q” begins the 6th century hymn: “Quem Terra…” (THE God whom earth, and sea, and sky adore, and laud, and magnify, who o'er their threefold fabric reigns, the Virgin's spotless womb contains. The God whose will by moon, and sun, and all things in due course is done, is borne upon a Maiden's breast, by fullest heavenly grace possessed. How blest that Mother, in whose shrine the great Artificer Divine, whose hand contains the earth and sky, vouchsafed, as in His ark, to lie…).
The two-line illuminated “Q” begins Psalm 8: 1-4: “Domine…” (O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens. Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
